Not Getting Any Interviews? Here’s Where You Are Going Wrong

We all know that the job market is more competitive than usual these days. Many of the world’s economies are still in recovery mode, and that means there are fewer jobs to go around.

As a result, people are finding it tougher to get jobs these days. Each role could have hundreds, if not thousands of applicants. That can often mean that you never even reach the interview stage.

Short of giving up on finding a job, what else can you do? Well, the first thing to do is look at what you’re doing. You might not realize it, but you could be hampering your chances of getting an interview – and a job.

Here are some of the most common mistakes we make when applying for jobs:

Your application wasn’t filled out correctly

One of the biggest bugbears from an HR point of view are application forms that don’t get filled out well. Quite often, applicants leave sections blank, thinking they aren’t relevant.

The truth is, such actions will mean an automatic rejection from companies. When you’re dealing with large volumes of applications, you’ll only shortlist the good ones.

Make sure your applications don’t end up on the reject pile. Read through the questions carefully. You can always contact the employer if you’re not sure about any of the questions.

You sent your resume instead of the application form

To standardize what they do, many employers will reject resumes that get sent into them. Instead, they will demand all applicants fill out a form.

Most smaller firms will ask people to send in their resumes instead of filling in an application form. Did you know that the top reason resumes get rejected is because they are terrible?

Quite often people think it’s acceptable to send in resumes filled with spelling mistakes. They also believe it’s OK to submit “cookie cutter” resumes.

If you want even half a chance of getting seen at an interview, your resume should be perfect! I recommend hiring a company that offers resume writing services. That way, you’ll have a resume tailored to the industry or types of roles you want.

You don’t have the right experience

Let’s say you apply for a job as a computer technician. If your past work only involved gardening, what chance will you have of getting the job? Zero is the answer!

Don’t just apply for all jobs in your local area and hope for the best. Take the time to apply for roles that are relevant to your background and expertise. Doing so means you won’t waste your time or that of any employers.

You missed the deadline

All job postings have a deadline by which you can apply for the roles. If you submit an application after that date, you’ve just wasted your time. Deadlines are there for a reason.

It also shows employers that you didn’t bother reading the job description. Because if you did, you would have seen the closing date for applications!